Report Suggests Chicago Cubs Could Be Sellers At Trade Deadline

The Chicago Cubs have not performed well as of late, potentially tipping them into the sellers category at the MLB trade deadline.

Kade Kistner | May 24, 2023

Report Suggests Chicago Cubs Could Be Sellers At Trade Deadline /

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Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs currently sit with a 21-26 record. It's a disappointing reality after starting the season on such a high note.

The arrivals of Dansby Swanson, Cody Bellinger and the emergence of Justin Steele and Christopher Morel should have been enough to help a Cubs team to the next level.

Instead, a new report from The Athletic suggests that Chicago could in fact once again be sellers at this year's MLB trade deadline.

When asked whether the team would be buyers or sellers at the deadline, President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer gave an honest answer.

“It’s a real factor in every season, right? Whether you’re looking for reinforcements, whether it’s a year where you’re selling, every team has it. You want to act with conviction when you get there — either direction. Like I’ve said all along, I want nothing more than to be on the (buy) side of the transaction,” said Hoyer.

“How we play over the next month is very important. It’s not early forever.”

The two players that would make the most sense to move at the deadline are Marcus Stroman and Cody Bellinger, with Kyle Hendricks a distant third.

Stroman and Bellinger, barring any collapses, would bring in massive hauls despite their "rental" status. Hendricks, a starter, could also fetch a decent haul considering how pitching-needy so many teams are.

However, it would be a disappointing change of plans and would likely now fare well with Cubs faithful. After seasons of selling off, this year appeared to be the season that the team would turn the corner.

Instead, the idea of continuing to "re-tool" looms as the trade deadline landscape begins to take shape.

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Published May 24, 2023

KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Cubs. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.